What distinguishing feature marks the underside of the Small White (Pieris napi) wings compared to its relatives?
Answer
Faint green or greyish scaling along the wing veins
The Small White, sometimes referred to as the Green-veined White, possesses a subtle but distinct physical characteristic useful for identification, especially when examining the underside of its wings. This feature is the presence of faint greenish or greyish scaling that runs along the veins. This specific venation tinting is either completely absent or significantly less pronounced in the related Large White and Cabbage White species, making it a crucial marker for separating P. napi from the others, particularly when direct size comparison or spot counting might be ambiguous.
Related Questions
What host plant does the Small White (Pieris napi) caterpillar primarily favor differently than the Large White and Cabbage White?What specific appearance marker reliably indicates the sex of the Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) on the upper side of the forewing?What distinguishing feature marks the underside of the Small White (Pieris napi) wings compared to its relatives?In which continent did the Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) establish itself relatively late, around the late 1800s, before spreading widely?To which scientific family do the Large White, Small White, and Cabbage White butterflies generally belong?Besides brassicas, which additional specific food sources are consumed by the caterpillars of the Large White (Pieris brassicae)?What color description is typically given for the chrysalis of the Cabbage White?How does the flight behavior of the adult Cabbage White often manifest when observed among vegetation?What comparison of physical size differentiates the Large White from the Small White?What specific effect do high populations of Large White and Cabbage White larvae have on their preferred Brassica crops?